Spindle adapter



Jan. 23, 1968 G. SHIRLEY 3,365,201

' SPINDLE ADAPTER Filed Sept. 22, 1965 FIG. 2

M FIG.5

INVENTOR. 462,440 $///e4 lrraeA z United States Patent 3,365,201 SPINDLE ADAPTER Gerald Shirley, 111 Lake Ave., Tuckahoe, N.Y. 10707 Filed Sept. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 489,224 9 Claims. (Cl. 27410) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adapter for a record player to enable the playing of enlarged center holes records on player spindles of varying dimensional characteristics is provided by combining a telescoping lower sleeve on the adapter to accommodate for dimensional Variations in the distance between the turntable topand the position of the lowermost record in the stack, with an adjustable sliding member in an axial spindle receiving bore to accommodate for differences in the distance between the latter position and the top of the spindle. The receiving bore is axially offset and the sliding member has an eccentric recess to accommodate either straight or offset spindles.

This invention relates to the automatic record changer art, and more particularly, to new, useful and outstanding improvements in separate and detachable adapters for those record changers and phonographs which are manufactured with the so-called standard, small diameter spindles adapted to receive records which are provided with small holes of about 0.281 inch in diameter.

The earliest records with small diameter holes were those designed to operate on turntables rotating at 78 r.p.m. The first record changers, i.e. record players which can handle a plurality of records from a stack to provide continuous playing without interruption, of the drop type were similarly characterized. Within relatively recent times, there were developed both the long-playing 33 /3 r.p.m. and the small diameter 45 r.p.m. records, the latter, however, being provided with a comparatively large center hole of one and a half inches in diameter, while the former retained the standard small diameter hole.

While a limited number of record players were developed and. manufactured specifically and restricted for use with the large diameter hole records, the greatest popular demand was and is for players, and particularly automatic record changers, with narrow diameter spindles to accommodate the standard 78 r.p.m. and the long playing 33 /3 r.p.m. large diameter records, especially since the 45 r.p.m. records can also be played thereon by resorting to either special wafer inserts or by the use of adapters provided by each changer manufacturer. The use of the Wafer insert did not meet with popular consumer acceptance because of many factors among which the primary ones were inconvenience and inordinate expense. A further deficiency lies in the poor operation of the record changer With such wafer inserts due to poor and defective structural characteristics, especially after several uses of the Wafer-inserted record. As a consequence of the deficiencies of the wafer inserts, and of the generally quite satisfactory performance of the spindle adapters, the latter represent the major marketatble product for playing 45 r.p.m. records on automatic record changers.

Although the consumer is generally satisfied with the presently available spindle adapters, once he has ascertained the proper one to purchase for his particular record changer, the determination of what is the proper one is not as simple as one might think. The basic reason for this lies in the fact that every record changer is more or less different, not the least of such differences being in the center-post or spindle design. Not only are these differences found among the different manufacturers, of whom there are a great number, but different models from the same manufacturer often have different spindle design and structure. These models may be from the same year or different years, further complicating the already muddled situation. Each and every different spindle design has required a distinct and different spindle adapter. Today there are literally dozens of different spindle adapters, and that amount bodes to be increased severalfold in the very near future as the number of manufacturers increases along with a distressing increase in the model variations. The increase in model variations seems sure to come not only as a natural consequence of our industrial evolutionary process but further because of the advent of the so-called compact models with shortened center spindles in response to the demand from manufacturers of portable phonographs and record players for slimmer designs so that carrying cases can be made slimmer, in line with current styling trends.

The present situation, as outlined above, requires distributors and dealers who handle this type of merchandise to stock a great many makes and models of spindle adapters. This is, obviously, burdensome and costly as it not only requires purchasing from myriad sources of supply, but it also uses up valuable storage space, increases inventory-control and record keeping costs, and finally, but certainly, of great importance, it ties up large amounts of capital.

Still further, the aforementioned situation also leads to a great amount of confusion and frustration between the dealer and his customer attending the sale of an adapter. This arises from the failure of the dealer to be able to satisfy the customers needs, which failure is a direct consequence of the customers inability to identify, with sufficiency, to the dealer the make and model of his changer and thereby give to the dealer the information necessary for him to supply the correct adapter. The customers inability to identify his changer is not unusual since most changers are used in assemblies not put together by the changer manufacturer. This generally results in any of the manufacturers identifying means being removed. Even in the case of changers carrying the makers name or trade-mark, it is often difficult for the consumer to find unique identifying data. The final result of this is, often, many trips by the customer, back and forth to the dealer, with the customer attempting to describe what he thinks is some structural characteristic which might help the dealer make an educated guess as to the correct adapter.

Certainly, from both the consumers point of view and also from the distributors and dealers points of view, there is, to put it mildly, room for improvement. The closest thing to a panacea in this area would be an adapter which could be employed with all presently and, possibly, future developed record changers.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a spindle adapter for use with narrow spindles to permit the playing of enlarged-center hole records.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spindle adapter for use with narrow spindles of varying heights to permit the playing of enlarged-center-hole records.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a universal spindle adapter which can be used with narrow spindles presently available and of varying heights to permit the playing of enlarged-center-hole records.

It is still another further object of this invention to provide a spindle adapter which can be employed interchangeably on a majority of the presently available narrow spindle record players to permit the playing of enlarged-center-hole records.

It is still another further object of this invention to provide a spindle adapter which is so constructed and adjustable so as to permit its employment with narrow spindles of varying heights and shapes whereby enlargedcenter-hole records may be played therewith irrespective of the particular record player involved.

Other objects will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds.

The objects of the present invention and others are achieved by providing a spindle adapter which is so constructed that it may be simply and readily manipulated to adjust for diiferences in the construction and height of the varying presently available narrow type spindles used in a majority of record changers. In order to achieve the objects of this invention, the spindle adapter which is herein provided generally comprises as part of the main body of the spindle adapter, two adjustable elements. One of these elements is provided to make adjustments for the varying distance in narrow spindles between the normal level of the record turntable and the point at which the bottom record is supported on the spindle. The second adjustable element provides for variations in the height of the narrow spindle above this latter mentioned point of support. As a further feature of the construction of the spindle adapter of this invention is a provision whereby spindles of difierent shapes may be accommodated. In general, narrow spindles are constructed along two major lines, those having a straight or single axis for the entire length of the spindle, and those wherein the upper portion of the narrow spindle is ofiset from the lower portion thereof. Additionally, the spindle adapter of the present invention is provided as part of the body thereof with any suitable and presently available mechanism for stacking and permitting the dropping of a single record at any time in response to the actuating mechanism which is an integral part of all presently available narrow spindles. As is well known and as exemplified in many patents such as US. Patents 2,666,647, 2,918,288, 2,935,324, 3,015,490 and 3,071,380, the pushotf finger which is integral with the turntable spindle and which is actuated by suitable mechanisms within the turntable itself, communicates its motion to a suitable and selected mechanism within the spindle adapter whereby the motion of the pushoif finger is translated by means of varying springs and sliding members to peripherally located fingers which permit the dropping of a single record at a time in response to the actuating effect of the pusholf finger of the turntable spindle. Suitable mechanisms for translating this action of the pushotf finger of the turntable spindle to the peripherally responsive means for holding and dropping the enlarged-hole records are well known and may be found in many of the above described and cited patents, and the particular mechanism so described and known forms no part of the basic conception of the present invention.

The present invention will be more clearly understood and further elaborated upon from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing Where- FIGJ is an elevational view, partly in cross-section of the spindle adapter of this invention in engagement with one form of narrow spindle;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the spindle adapter of this invention in engagement with a narrow spindle presently available but differing from that in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing details of the arrangement of certain portions of the spindle adapter taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing details of the arrangement of certain portions of the spindle adapter taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the spindle adapter showing details of the arrangement of certain portions of the spindle adapter taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the elements of the spindle adapter and used for adjusting to the height and shape of the narrow spindle with which the adapter is used;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 but employing a modified form of the cap element shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings, the numeral 2 refers to the spindle adapter in its entirety comprising the various elements which make up the adapter. The spindle adapter 2 is comprised of three major components, a top element or cap 4, a centrally disposed body element 6 and a lower element or skirt 8. The cap portion 4 is provided with an offset axial bore 10 and slots 12 and 14. A sliding member 16 is provided for insertion and slidable engagement with bore 10. This sliding member is comprised of cap member 18 and opposed projections 20 and 22. Cap member 18 is further provided with a recessed portion 24, which in turn contains a further recessed portion 26. Throughout the length of cap portion 4 there are provided at least one, and preferably a plurality of means 28 for locking sliding member 16 within bore 10 at any selected predetermined point. Upper cap member 4 may be constructed of any suitable material of construction but it is preferred to employ either metal or plastic, and of course the latter is the most preferable. Sliding member 16 may be fabricated likewise from any suitable material such as metal, plastic, wood and the like, but again, a plastic material is preferred, especially for economic reasons.

The centrally disposed body portion 6 comprises the actuating mechanism for holding and dropping the records onto the turntable. As described and pointed out above, any presently available mechanism may be used for this purpose. These mechanisms are usually composed of metallic elements in view of the strength requirements. However, again, any suitable material may be used where same can produce the required results. The upper cap portion is secured to central body member 6 in any convenient manner such as, for example, by means of screws, rivets, adhesives and the like.

Lower member 8 comprises a cylindrical portion 30 and a further coaxially associated cylindrical skirt element 32. The latter at the upper portion thereof is constructed with a shoulder portion 34 which is in snug slidable engagement with element 30. Further associated with lower element 8 is an insert member 36 which is provided with a plurality of projections 38 and a centrally disposed opening 40. The diameter of insert 36, exclusive of projections 38, is approximately equivalent to the internal diameter of'cylindrical element 30 and projections 38 are so disposed and constructed as to engage suitable slots 42 in the bottom of cylindrical element 30. The projections 33 are, further, so constructed that they extend slightly beyond the external diameter of element 30 and thereby provide supporting or hearing points for sliding skirt member 32 together with the latters inwardly disposed shoulder 34. Still another function of projections 38 is to act as a stop for sliding skirt 32 by engagement with shoulder 34. This prevents the skirt 32 from slipping off and thereby disengaging cylindrical portion 36. The lower element 8 which is attached to the lower portion of centrally located body member 6 may be attached thereto in any suitable manner similarly as top element 4 is attached to central member 6. These securing and/ or attaching means include screws, adhesives and the like.

None of the details of construction of central member 6 is shown since, as pointed out above, these details form no part of the present invention. Shown, however, is record supporting shelf 44.

In employing the adapter of the present invention, it is necessary to position sliding member 16 in its proper position for each specific record changer spindle. Once this proper position has been determined and sliding member 16 secured in this position by means 28, the adapter 2 can be removed from the record changer and used over and over again as any conventional adapter without any further adjustments being necessary. To ascertain the proper setting for sliding member 16, the procedure is as follows. The adapter 2 with sliding member 16 preferably removed, is placed on the record changer spindle as one would normally place a conventional adapter with the exception that while the conventional adapter is merely pushed on the spindle until the top of the spindle engages the top of the adapter, the adapter of the present invention is carefully positioned so that the record-supporting shelf of the record changer spindle is just beneath but touching the internal record dropping mechanism push plate. This, of course, is the normal position of the conventional adapter when it is properly seated. Sliding member 16 is then inserted into opening with projections 22 and in slots 12 and 14, being careful to align recessed portion 24 with the upper portion of the changer spindle. Since the changer spindles are either straight or offset as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there will be two possible means of insertion of the slide 16. The slide member 16 is pushed down into the opening 10 until it engages the top of the record changer spindle, and in this position, the slide member 16 is securely fastened by means 28. Telescoping skirt 32 is then slid downwardly until it engages the top of the changer turntable. The purpose for this is to maintain the enlarged center hole records on the turntable in proper and necessary central alignment. Upon the subsequent removal of the spindle adapter from the center spindle of the record changer, the sliding mem -ber 16 will, obviously, remain in its fixed and secured position, and which will be thereafter the proper position for use with the particular changer which is employed for the original setting.

It will, of course, be apparent that many changes, variations, and modifications can be made in the particular structure which has been described above, but clearly any such variations or modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of what has been taught herein are within the scope of the present invention. One such variation is depicted in FIG. 7 which shows a modified slidable element 50, which has, in lieu of one of the projections 20 and 22, a locking means 52, which serves the same function as the locking means set screws 28 but which is integral or a part of the slidable element 50. Locking is accomplished by the pressure and frictional engagementof means 52 against top element 4. This engagement may be against the surrounding walls of one of the slots 12 or 14, or absent same, against the outer periphery of top element 4.

It is also apparent that slots 12 and 14 need not have the configuration specifically shown in the drawings, but may have any suitable and desirable shape suitable to enable the cap element 16 or 50 to be slidable and then fixedly secured in the manner described above.

I claim:

1. A spindle adapter for converting a small diameter center post of a record player to handle records with enlarged center holes larger than said small diameter center post comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving a small diameter center post,

(2) means moveable in the upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position of the top of said small diameter center post within said bore when the adapter is positioned on said post,

(3) the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive enlarged center hole records, and

(4) the said lower portion of said cylindrical element including a telescoping sleeve, said sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

2. A spindle adapter for converting a small diameter center post of a record player to handle records with enlarged center holes larger than said small diameter center post comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving a small diameter center post,

(2) means slidable in the upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position of the top of said small diameter center post within said bore when the adapter is positioned on said post,

(3) the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive enlarged center hole records, and

(4) the said lower portion of said cylindrical element including a telescoping sleeve, said sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

3. A spindle adapter for converting a small diameter center post of a record player to handle records with enlarged center holes larger than said small diameter center post comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving a small diameter center post,

(2) said axial bore at the upper portion of said cylindrical element being offset from the central axis of said cylindrical element,

(3) means moveable in the upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position of the top of said small diameter center post within said bore when the adapter is positioned on said post,

(4) the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive enlarged center hole records, and

(5 the said lower portion of said cylindrical element including a telescoping sleeve, said sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

4. A spindle adapter for converting a small diameter center post of a record player to handle records with enlarged center holes larger than said small diameter center post comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving a small diameter center post,

(2) said axial bore at the upper portion of said cylindrical element being offset from the central axis of said cylindrical element,

(3) slidable means in said upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position within said axial bore of the top of said small diameter center post when the adapter is positioned on said post,

(4) the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive enlarged center hole records, and

(5) the said lower portion of said cylindrical element including a telescoping sleeve, said sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

5. A spindle adapter for converting a small diameter center post of a record player to handle records with enlarged center holes larger than said small diameter center post comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving a small diameter center post,

(2) said upper portion of said cylindrical element having at least one vertically disposed slot communicating with said axial bore,

(3) said axial bore at the upper portion of said cylindrical element being ofiset from the central axis of said cylindrical element,

(4) means moveable in said upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position within said axial bore of the top of said small diameter center post when the adapter is positioned on said post, the said means including an extension for engagement with the said vertically disposed slot of the upper portion of said cylindrical element,

() the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive enlarged center hole records, and

(6) the said lower portion of said cylindrical element including a telescoping sleeve, said sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

6. A spindle adapter for converting a small diameter center post of a record player to handle records with enlarged center holes larger than said small diameter center post comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving a small diameter center post,

(2) said upper portion of said cylindrical element having at least one vertically disposed slot communicating with said axial bore,

(3) said axial bore at the upper portion of said cylin drical element being offset from the central axis of said cylindrical element,

(4) slidahle means in said upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position within said axial bore of the top of said small diameter center post when the adapter is positioned on said post, the said means including an extension for engagement with the said vertically disposed slot of the upper portion of said cylindrical element,

(5) the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive enlarged center hole records, and

(6) the said lower portion of said cylindrical element 1 including a telescoping sleeve, said sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

7. A spindle adapter for converting a small diameter center post of a record player to handle records with enlarged center holes larger than said small diameter center post comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving a small diameter center post,

(2) said axial bore at the upper portion of said cylindrical element being offset from the central axis of said cylindrical element,

(3) means moveable in said upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position within said axial bore of the top of said small diameter center post when the adapter is positioned on said post, and being provided with associated means for engaging the said small diameter center post,

(4) the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive enlarged center hole records, and

(5) the said lower portion of said cylindrical element including a telescoping sleeve, said sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

8. For use with a phonograph record player having a rotatable turntable and a small diameter center spindle adapted to support a stack of records and, means in said center spindle to provide records to the said turntable one at a time; means to enable records with enlarged center holes to be played similarly, one at a time, comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and axial bore for receiving said center spindle,

(2) means moveable in the upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position of the top of said small diameter center spindle within said bore when the adapter is positioned on said spindle,

(3) the upper portion of said cyiindrical element having a diameter to receive and stack enlarged center hole records, and

(4) the lower portion of said cylindrical element including an encircling telecsoping sleeve having a di ameter similar to said upper portion.

9. For use with a phonograph record player having a rotatable turntable and a small diameter center spindle adapted to support a stack of records and, means in said center spindle to provide records to the said turntable one at a time; means to enable records with enlarged center holes to be played similarly, one at a time, comprising (1) a cylindrical element having an upper and lower portion and an axial bore for receiving said small diameter center spindle,

(2) said axial bore at the upper portion of said cylindrical element being offset from the central axis of said cylindrical element,

(3) means moveable in the upper portion of said axial bore for fixing the position of the top of said small diameter center spindle within said bore when the adapter is positioned on said spindle,

(4) the said upper portion of said cylindrical element having a diameter to receive and stack enlarged center hole records, and

(5) the said lower portion of said cylindrical element including an encircling telecsoping sleeve having a diameter similar to said upper portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,884,255 4/1959 Wennerbo et al 274-l05 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

J. M. FREED, Assistant Examiner. 

